Key ring construction



N w M, 1939. A. o. SCHOENINGER vKEY RING CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 2', 19:57

y aj zz/WM i514 Patented Nov. 14, 1939 KEY RING CGNSTRUCTION of New Jersey Application @etober 2,

3 Claims.

My present invention relates to key rings and particularly pertains to key rings of circular form having a key passageway normally closed by a displaceable closure.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a construction which normally presents an unbroken, smooth ring.

Another object of the invention is to form a key ring which will close the passageway in such a manner that it will not hook into any portion of the clothing of the user, the parts thereof being so enclosed as to prevent the collection of dust and grit.

A further object of my invention is to provide a ring which is pleasing in appearance, easy and economical to manufacture and assemble, and of sufiicient strength to withstand hard. use.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in View, my novel invention comprises a key ring arrangement more fully disclosed in the appended detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and more specifically defined in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing illustrating my invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the novel key ring in its normal closed position;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the ring, the passageway being open in a position to insert a key;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the complete ring taken along the line 4:i of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, partly broken away, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a modified form of my key ring.

Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention, the key ring H3 is made of a suitable metal such as chromium, steel or chromium plated steel, or the like, and is formed into a channelshape, having a substantially rectangular crosssection, with the open end of the channel towards the ring center, the open channel being bent into an incomplete circle to provide a gap or passageway l2. A leaf spring 13 is then placed within the circular channel l2 so as to extend almost completely around the inner surface of the ring and in such position that a portion of one end of said leaf spring bridges the passageway, this end issuing from one end of the channel member and resting in the opposite end, see Fig. 2.

A flat metal strip [4 is then inserted in the inner portion of the channel member H in such position that it covers the spring and completes 1937, Serial No. 167,071

the rectangular cross-section of the ring. The strip 54 is substantially shorter than the spring and reaches short of the passageway, leaving sufficient room for the action of the leaf spring. The strip M is anchored at both ends by means of soldering or the like, and held in place by pinching the sides of the channel member I! at selected points and turning in the edges l5 thereof to more securely hold it in place.

The portion of the spring l3 extending across the passageway l2 has pinched or clamped thereon a metal closure i6 adapted to fill the space formed by the passageway in such manner that a substantially smooth, unbroken surface results in the periphery of the ring. In the form shown 1 in Fig. 6, the closure can be formed as indicated at ioa, with depending side portions so that the outer periphery, and the faces of the ring have a smooth, unbroken surface.

The completed ring thus has a continuous enclosed, smooth, unbroken surface, both inside and outside, simulating a solid ring to appearance and touch.

To insert a key or similar object, it is merely necessary to place the edge thereof against the closure E6 or Mia and press against the tension of the leaf spring 13. The spring will bend as shown in Fig. 2 and the key can then be slipped on to the channel member ll, after which the spring will snap back into place. To remove the key, it is only necessary to bring it adjacent the passageway and manually depress the closure to open the passageway. To prevent catching of the ring and to make it more easily removable, the edge of the closure member I6 facing the end of the leaf spring l3 may be bevelled.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will readily appear to one skilled in the art, and changes in the size, shape, and materials used may be made to suit different key ring designs, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A key holder comprising an annular tubular member, a passageway in said member, a closure member movable into and out of said passageway to permit the passage of a key therethrough, and a leaf spring anchored in said tubular member and extending across said passageway for resiliently holding said closure member in said passageway, said tubular member comprising a channel shaped member and a strip adapted to close the open side of said channel.

2. A key holder comprising an annular member,

Cir

3. A key holder comprising an annular tubular member, a passageway in said member, a closure member movable-into and out of said passageway to permit the passage of a key therethrough, and means for resiliently holding said closure member in said passageway, said tubular member comprising a channel shaped member and a strip adapted to close the open side of said channel, said closure member being clamped about said resilient holding means and extending across said 10 passageway.

ADOLF O. SCHOENINGER. 

